Physiological Seasonal Skin Changes and Sensitivities

Many people experience seasonal sensitivity/allergy with their skin when seasons change. Seasonal sensitivity can be frustrating if you don't know the cause of your skin problems; it can create additional stress that may aggravate the existing condition. What can an affected person do?

First of all, try to determine whether you have seasonal sensitivity:

Do you have the following symptoms?

1. Rough skin 
2. Dull skin tone 
3. Skin turns slightly red compared to usual 
4. Rash or itchiness 
5. Eczema 
6. Recurring dryness and flakiness despite using moisturizers 
7. Oiliness and breakouts 
8. Deep cleansing facial masks and scrubs did not improve condition but made it worse.

The Reasons

If you have 3 or more of the above symptoms, your skin may be prone to seasonal allergies that occur typically around autumn, when humidity in the air decreases. The air is drier than in the summer, and can cause irritations for sensitive skin. The bad news is, sensitivity tends to reoccur with season changes. The good news is, you can also do something about it!

Cleansing

Skin tends to become drier in autumn. As in all seasons, choose a mild cleanser that will thoroughly remove makeup (double cleansing) but will not strip away skin’s essential moisture. And as a rule, don't overdo it! Cleansing twice a day is generally enough.

Toning

For toners, choose a product that is non-drying, hydrating and can strengthen the moisture barrier of your skin.

Moisturizing

As the air gets dry, the level of moisture your skin is exposed to will decrease. Dehydration can cause your sebum glands to secrete excessive oil, which can clog pores and lead to acne. Choosing a hydrosol-based toner and moisturizer that will keep skin hydrated for a long time is essential in maintaining healthy looking, blemish-free skin. For moisturizers, pick a product that is hydrosol-based and non-greasy (mineral oil and Vaseline) to balance against excessive sebum secretion, replenishing your skin with moisture. If you have very dry or dehydrated skin, using a moisturizing mask 2 to 3 times a day can also fortify the moisture barrier of your skin. Essence sheet masks are also an ideal way of infusing your skin with moisture as they are easily absorbed and penetrate deeper into your skin's layers.

Keep irritants at bay

Desperate people do desperate things. At the first sign of acne, many people will resort to using the harshest cleansers and masks to help unclog pores, unaware of the cause of the breakout in the first place. Products that are acidic can cause irritations to skin that is prone to seasonal allergies and sensitivity. Many deep cleansing/pore refining scrubs, clay masks, and treatment products contain harsh alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids which can aggravate the condition, making your skin worse than before. If your skin is prone to seasonal sensitivity and allergies, switch to a product line that is mild and non-irritating when seasons change to lower your sensitivity. Stay away from products containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids until your condition improves and your skin returns to normal.

Although hot water does not contain irritants, it can become an irritant when used on sensitive skin. Avoid hot baths and using hot water to wash your face since hot water can dilate your pores and irritate your skin. Also, cleanse any hair products thoroughly and avoid leaving residue on your face when showering.

A filtering shower head will help eliminate chlorine and other harmful water contents that can be drying to skin. Using a toner after washing will remove water components that are also detrimental to skin if allowed to remain and penetrate.

Update your skin's wardrobe

Just like clothes, different seasons call for different needs. If you are prone to seasonal allergies/sensitivity, you may want to update your skin's wardrobe when the climate becomes drier. Most beauty-savvy women will have 2 sets of skin care: one for spring/summer, and another for autumn/winter. For Spring/Summer, choose a refreshing line of products since the humidity in the air is higher; and for Autumn/Winter, choose a more moisturizing line to keep skin hydrated. No matter what you choose, make sure that the product line you choose is right for your age and skin type!

The Solutions

Seasonal changes can cause serious damage to your skin. Follow these helpful hints to keep your skin healthy and beautiful all winter long, and be sure to schedule regular appointments with your skin care specialist.

• Proper moisture balance—As the air gets colder and drier, your skin begins to lose moisture. This can cause flaking, chaffing, peeling and redness. There¬fore, it is very important to keep skin moisturized all winter long, regardless of your skin type. Give your skin a boost with a deep-penetrating nourishing mask to help maintain your skin’s hydration. Misting several times a day, just one or two spritzes, with a hydrosol will deeply hydrate tissues. A whole house humidifier, or even a room one, will add needed moisture back into the dry winter air.

• Avoiding breakouts—Many skin types react to the cold weather by over-producing oil in an effort to compensate for moisture loss. This overproduction can lead to an increase in acne as pores clog with sebum. This is why it is vital to listen to your skin care special¬ist, and follow the skin care routine she prescribes. Keep in mind that without proper exfoliation, dead skin cells and sebum will clog pores, increasing acne flare ups, redness and the possibility of infection.

• Perk up dull skin—The colder weather can leave your skin looking dull and worn. Proper cleansing, toning, exfoliation and treatment will help rejuvenate tired looking skin. Nourish your skin with nutrient-rich moisturizers for a soft, dewy look.

• Wear an SPF—Although it may not seem necessary to wear an SPF during the winter months, it is necessary. Harmful UV rays penetrate your skin year-round, and protection is the key to maintaining healthy skin and helping to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and even cancer. Use an SPF of 15 or higher.

From A Dermalogical Study: Seasonal variability in the biophysical properties of the stratum corneum from different anatomical sites. Three different anatomical sites (calf, inner forearm and crow's foot wrinkle area of the face) were assessed in February, April, July and December of the same year. The assessments made were skin surface hydration using an electrical capacitance technique, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by evaporimetry, number of corneocytes released using a turbine stimulation method, and skin surface topography using optical profilometry.

The results showed significant anatomical differences: with the crow's foot site > forearm > calf, for skin surface hydration and corneocyte numbers; and the crow's foot site > forearm and calf, with no difference between the latter two sites, for TEWL measurements. With these techniques, seasonal differences were observed mainly in the calf, to a lesser extent in the forearm, but not in the crow's foot area. These mainly involved increases in these three parameters in July, as opposed to the other time-points. Parameters of skin surface topography however, showed no consistent seasonal pattern, but markedly higher values were observed for the forearm in comparison to the calf and crow's foot sites, which were similar. From meteorological data obtained, the average daily maximum temperature and hours of sunshine increased to peak values in July, as did the absolute humidity derived from relative humidity data.

We conclude that the results are most likely to represent changes in the SC due to climatic factors, with the calf and forearm sites being most affected in comparison to the face (crow's foot wrinkle area), which seems unaffected. The reasons for this latter site remaining unchanged may be due to its greater UV exposure, sebum content, and that the use of facial cosmetics was allowed.


Source

Some Love for Sister Love



We thank Caroline, who took the time to write about her experience about Sister Love Bee Balms

"January has hit our family with an extended period of cold spells. Not the type of cold spell that those living North of us experience but literally one cold after another for about three weeks. As a mother of three children I decided to use the Bee Balm to help heal the red and tender area underneath their noses.  You see, I have children who are old enough to blow noses but not old enough to do so without creating the rash underneath. Two of my three children used the Bee Balm “ That Healing Feeling” daily, the third did not. It was amazing to see how on my two children the “rash” stayed at bay. My poor third child. The red and tender area underneath her nose continued throughout the week of nose blowing.
Thank you Bee Balm. It has been great to us during this winter season and also works magic on everyone’s chapped lips!!"

Sister Love Bee Balms are sold exclusively at Metamorphis LLC 555 West Granada Blvd Ste D6 Ormond Beach (386) 615-8195 or contact via email shamrockbeefarms@gmail.com

The History behind "Sister Love Bee Balm"


Life as I knew it changed after reading “The Secret Life of Bees”

There is an unexplained amount of joy in beekeeping. I love pulling the honey-laden frames from the beehives and spending the day in the sanctuary of my bee shack with a hot decapping knife and smelling the beeswax as it drops into the screened container bin. Then the frames are spun in my extractor where I can have immediate access to the best honey I’ve ever tasted. Things taste better from your own backyard. So I was very excited about the “simple” life of selling and eating my honey until my husband dropped a piece of sizzling steak fat on the top of his foot.

I decided to make him a balm from the by-products of the beehive. Honey is known as an excellent healing proponent for skin ailments. But I had been researching more about propolis. The honeybees make propolis from tree resin. It has multiple uses in the beehive. They use it primarily to seal cracks in the hive against sunlight and also the cold. The girls (bees) are immaculate home keepers and propolis has strong anti-bacterial components. Propolis has been used for centuries by the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. A short list of its attributes is: antibiotic, healing of burns, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticoagulant. It has a high amount of flavonoids which is linked to the strong antibiotic effects.

I had several ingredients in my shack that had similar healing properties so I mixed them up in a little bowl and approached my new favorite guinea pig husband with the bum foot. I have to say he was in a lot of pain and would barely let me place my balm on his burn. We left it on overnight with a bandage and the next morning it had healed the burn completely. I kept poking his foot with more pressure and we were both amazed at the results.


So hoping it wasn’t just a one person wonder, I then spread the balm to anyone with a cut, burn, chapped lips, cracked knuckles, scraped knees, paper cuts and the results were truly remarkable. Josh’s foot was a very fast heal and I used a high amount of propolis for him. Propolis has its own tricky attributes that make it impractical in too high of a percentage in general skin healing balms. It is referred to as “bee duct tape” or “caulk” for the hive and is the stickiest, most difficult product to deal with. I learned there is such a thing as too much propolis, too many essential oils, and too much wine. (It was fun experimenting back then).

Since then I have found my favorite combination of shea, mango, cocoa butters along with honey, beeswax, propolis, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree oil and many other delightful healing ingredients. I suggest googling “Helichrysum” for an amazing essential oil in anti-aging treatments.

I have seen how quickly a cut heals, how quickly the pain is relieved, how quickly the redness due to inflammation disappears and how the skin is rejuvenated with the Shea and mango butters and lavender. The feedback I receive most is the rapid healing of skin without the itchy scab side effects. It is most effective on a cut when wrapped and left on overnight or 24 hours depending on the severity.


I am proud to make all of my balms with only natural ingredients that are treated as organically as possible. I treat my beehives organically but the honeybees can fly up to 5 miles so it is stretch for most beekeepers to make a true organic claim. I use high quality organic unrefined Shea butter that is fair trade certified. It is the top ingredient in all my balms.


Although I’m not claiming to cure the world’s diseases, the ability to share a product that is made from the ingredients I believe so strongly in with the history of healing to back it up, is a new indescribable joy.
For any questions, please contact me at shamrockbeefarms@gmail.com


Our Sister Love Bee Keeper Tami

Metamorphosis's New Year's Resolution


We (Metamorphosis) resolve to:

  • Offer monthly specials
  • Keep abreast to new and innovative ideas in the skin industry
  • Take care of your own skin health
  • Share information, tips and ideas
  • Have an open house again this year (looking at Feb or April)


We want you to:

  • Follow Metamorphosis Blog off the website
  • Click "like" on Facebook for Metamorphosis (bonus- some promotions can only be found there!)
  • Tell all your friends and family about Metamorphosis
  • Follow your Estheticians advice about your skin
  • Give a positive or negative feedback to Joshua about your experience
  • Read our monthly newsletter
  • All Colorescience has to go!! Big sale now 50% off everything in stock


Facial Special:


Winter Radiance with Oxygen therapy $75 (reg $99)
Indulge in the aromas and incredible antioxidants of cherries and chocolate and grapeseed oils with clove. Finish with the incredible benefits of oxygen infused in the skin with Vit A.,C, and E.

Thanks Teresa and Logical Wellness Therapy

We want to thank Teresa lopez and Logical Wellness Therapy next store for helping to host a 2 day Thermography screening event where women took advantage of Teresa's thermography screenings instead of a mammo. She will be back in april so anyone wanting this screeing should call us for more info.

Teresa Lopez is the owner of Thermography of the Palm Beaches. She is a well esteemed expert in thermal imaging . Breast imaging sessions with Teresa will include thermal imaging of chest, breast, thyroid, lymph and immune system disorders; personal verbal consultation of your report immediately after imaging and a personal protocol to follow for the enhancement of your health.